i love my job (Paris)

Bonjour

Just a quick one...

Paris was AMAZING!! I didn't want to come back, fell in love with this place. It is like nothing I ever imagined Paris to be.
The flight there was great, nice people, awesome crew. The moment we landed, we organized a shuttle together. The hotel was quite kitsch, but cool. On arrival, we each got a handful of euros for spending, and our entry swipe card. On our tv was an information channel. I thought this was so cool. When I went to it, it said: "welcome miss alta van der merwe. Your flight has been delayed and the new departure time is..... and your new pickup time is..... We hope you enjoy your stay." Wow, how cool is that, hahaha. When I switched on my phone, it was set to Paris time, and I could still get phonecalls and sms's. (on arrival my network company said: welcome back home, hope you had a pleasant and successful trip) haha, so cute

It was 6 of us that traveled together (we were almost an hour away from the city), but an hour later we split. Me and another South African. We saw the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower and walked along the Seine river and passed all its beautiful bridges and ended up at the Champs Elysee. It was freakin freezing cold. I bought a pair of gloves, and when you walk into shops, there are warm air blowing at the entrance. We were starving and somehow ended up at this stunning cute organic vegetarian restaurant, with 2 litres of wine (the waiter fell in love with Candice and kept topping up our bottle, haha) The ambience was so perfect, food was great, music, ah - I was in love with Paris. It felt like Long Street to me, young people with skateboards, funky hairstyles, individuality. We asked every 5th person for directions, and even though their English was very broken, they were extremely nice and helpful (no, no one was arrogant:)
Afterwards, we decided to try out the crazy metro system and took a train closer to our pickup point which was at 11pm. It was so cool. By this stage, everything was fantasteeeque, merci boucoup, bonjour, and a whole bunch of phrases we learned on the aircraft, haha. We made acquaintances along the way, as seen on the photos - there are lots more on facebook. We still wanted to try out the nightlife scene, but ran out of time. Next time.

That's about it for now. Now I have 4 days off and then I go see my pookie in Johannesburg!!

Hope your weekend was great
Lots of lurve
Au revoir

delayed

So, how are you all doing?? Mmmm, I don't hear from some of you...

Ok, so I have finally graduated and it was fantastic. They make a big booohaaa about it, and we had photographers and LOUD music, and flowers and it was flashy. Amber (old friend from Dubai) and her flatmate came to see me. I cried when she gave me the beautiful bunch of flowers, it was an emotional day, after all that studying and hardship to have my license in my hand.

Afterwards we all went out for dinner, and then to a club that gave us separate entrance and free drinks for two hours. I got dressed up all sexy for a change;)

My first flights were AWESOME!! I got to sit in the cockpit for 6 flights, it was something out of a movie!! Saw the sun set above the clouds on the way to Istanbul, from the front view and it was spiritual, wow. And listened in on the Aircraft Traffic Control and how they get the plane to land and push all those buttons and all, wow. This is all new to me, and I plan on imagining that it always is so that I can live it so intensely:) It's been weird knowing that I land in another country and not be able to see it. (my flights have only been nights, and turnarounds - meaning that I stay on the airport for about an hour, then come back to Dubai)

One night I met a bikeracer, and I was fortunate enough to get invited and a free pass to go to the Dubai Motorsport Festival, and sit with the guys in the 'garage'. I watched the race (my first one) and it was awesome. The guys (Team Suzuki) came first and third. Attached is a photo of me trying the comfort of a GSXR600 out. The whole team is an extremely nice bunch of guys, and said that they will try to get me to ride on the track. Heehaa!!! I've been out with them a few times, and they are so cool:)

On the downside, I went through a few days of homesickness. I missed all my friends, and dinners and chats and my mom and just wanted to come home, to Cape Town. The crew website asked me to write about Cape Town for them, which I did and that put a smile back on my face:-)

Hope you enjoyed my news today

Okie dokes

Ciao for now

Hope to hear from you

Drukkies,
Alta

checking in

Marhaba

First Aid training was intense. I can treat asthmatic neckbreathers now, epileptic people, deliver babies, deal with diabetics and the list never ends. I am a firefighter, a nurse, a security officer, a waitress, a shrink, a kungfu fighter, all in one. If I was on a LOST island, I would be Jack, and Kate, and John, and Saeed.

Am now in my second week of service training and am seriously starting to loose my mind. My head cannot take in anymore!!! I feel like I'm in university. Not even to mention the Arabic lessons we've been receiving since yesterday. Two more days of that. Good news is, college is almost over. Tomorrow is my biggest exam, practical - we are doing a fake flight from Dubai - Heathrow. Thursday we should all graduate. Man, and will I party. There is a club offering the graduates free drinks for 2 hours, and we will take full advantage. I already received my roster for the month, and will be doing my first flight to Istanbul next Tuesday. Also Karachi, Kuwait and Jeddah. I am very excited about all this. Oh, did I mention that I will be going to Paris, moohahaha:-) on the 25th - my first layover. Getting a day to shop there or something. I will be flying to Joburg end of the month, also day layover, where my pookie will come visit me for the day.
But first, back to studies. I am tired and sick, and have to drag this body around, haha. At the same time hide my emotions and support my team ( they have elected me again for groupleader, sweet bunch) We have become real close, which is nice and comforting.
Oh, meant to mention before - that we are 31 000 people working for Emirates, and 9000 of us are crew. It is quite insane!! They've got quite an impressive system trying to keep everyone happy.
Marcela and I have become good friends, she is from Brazil Sweet girl.


I have been giving some yoga classes, requested by team members. That has been working out well.
Over the weekend I camped on the beach (how cool is that, here you are allowed to camp and make huge bonfires on the beach - the beach was packed, looked like a festival, was nogal interesting), the next day got invited to sail on a catamaran (FUNCAT)for the day, free food and drinks and a few of us got invited to go parasailing. I found myself jumping overboard, swimming in the deep ocean to swim to the next boat that would take us parasailing. My first time, wow. Felt like a little holiday.
Made an effort to see what the sunset looks like in Dubai. Not too bad;)

And otherwise, floating in and out of reality. I will hopefully soon recover, having a few days off after graduation and each flight.
It is great sharing these things with all of you. Please tell me about your days, and moments.


Ma'salama
Alta

buenas dias

Ola!!

How are you all machachos??

Finally finished two weeks of Safety Emergency Procedures, passed all my exams and got positive feedback. Today we did one day of intense security training, which included restraining disruptive passengers(hitting pressure points, etc), hijackers, identifying a wide range of firearm types, learned some amazing things and techniques. Only had yesterday off, and now back for 6 days till my next day off:( Tomorrow is a week of First Aid and General Medical training. Someone said something very accurate - that we are undercover agents -> on the surface we look like sweet, innocent, friendly air hostesses -> meanwhile, triggered, we'll have the attitude of a soldier:-) haha. But true.

Otherwise, not much news. Planned my first night out on Thurs (18Oct) very excited, to find myself on the couch Fri morning - I had passed out and missed out - slept for 11 hours. Eish. Sad story..:) Better luck next time

Little quiz:
Who can tell me where the fuel is kept in a plane?
And
What happens to all the wastes that are flushed in the toilet?
mmmmm

Till later amigos

Take care

Alta

Eid Mubarak

Hello skatties

Wow, a whole week of intense training has passed. I aced my first exam:), now I have two days off (Fri/Sat) and jumping straight into a practical exam on Sunday - Monday is a written exam. Geez!!! My brain is fried already!!

I wish I could send you more photo's, got these from fellow trainees (remember, my camera got stolen...)

I have been having a lot of fun, learning amazing things, forming friendships, keeping my focus, experimenting with freaky foods, exploring Dubai on foot (went to the beach today - water is nice and warm, and got a whole tour of Dubai from housemate) Dubai is twice the size since I've been here. It is one big construction site.

We do a lot of training in the simulators (when you see us wearing overalls, it is when we do practical stuff) - we have 3 fake planes operating as real ones, even does turbulence, smoke, takeoff/landing - feels absolutely real. The swimming pool is for emergency landing, where we had to get on the lifeboat and practice ditching etc. - had to go overboard, the works. Emirates has state of the art training schools and areas - it is really amazing how much they put into training the staff. I've gained new respect for airhostesses:)

Tomorrow is a day of chilling at our pool. Ramadan is finally over.. Makes things easier. From next week (starting Sunday for us), it is back to getting up at 5h30 for school.

I hope you enjoyed reading my news.
Can't wait to hear back from you.

Take care
Hugs,
Alta

Induction

Hi guys

thanks for all your replies!!

My flatmate turned out to be REALLY AWESOME! She is from Pretoria and we get along great. Realized that we got wifi at home, so enjoying being connected.

So, have been in an induction programme this week (have been getting up at 5h30 every morning) - today was grooming day. I learned to put my hair in one of those perfect buns (not an art), how to wear our uniform to perfection and generally learned to be a lady today. Did the whole shebang, giggling with the girls, removing makeup, splashing our faces with expensive products and then applying makeup (Gosh, will take some time to get used to the red lipstick, although am enjoying the conservative uniform and the pride to be in it - my mother will be really proud). I look around me when I wait for the bus - the people here are full of themselves, and I get it - because they all know that they are in one of the best companies to work for and one of the best airlines. And sometimes I feel so detached, as an outsider, because at the end of the day I must be professional and fit in here - and at the same time remind myself who I am, and what I am. I work hard(in myself) to hold my own opinions while being trained into a new perspective. And I can feel the changes happening. Today I miss Cape Town...(sniff sniff)

There is a certain smell about Dubai (I realized as I landed, and remembered from before). I am quite centred, have Spinneys (like Pick 'n Pay) next to me, a mall opposite, the creek where I can go do yoga and chill on the grass, etc, etc. We have a gym in the building and a beautiful swimming pool on the roof. I am proud to say that I have given up alcohol (maybe in the future have an odd glass of wine now and then), the girls try and drag me out, but I am content at home for now:)

I am also proud to say that I am my group's co-ordinator/teamleader:)

Tight hugs,
Alta

Hi guys!!

Thought I'd pop in quick to share some stuff:)

So I left yesterday very early, both my flights went extremely smooth, which was quite nice. When I landed in Dubai (00h30) it was 30'C and extremely humid (my glasses kept clogging up - embarrasing). We were greeted by Marhaba (a personal meet & greet company) and waited till 3 this morning for all the crew to arrive before we were taken to our accomodation (moved straight into our permanent pozzie:)

I have got such a gorgeous apartment. My housemate stuck notes for me all over the place (welcome note on my door, personal card to welcome me, info, and the name of the cat - Chanti) Yes, yes, I finally have a cat now also!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bonus!! So, she's been keeping me company, coz Linda (housemate) is only coming back tonight. Linda added her own personal touch to the place, bit African, bit arty, it is just plain beautiful. Can't wait to meet her!! I wanted to take photos straight away to add it here today, only to find that my digital has been stolen (in Joburg ofcourse)

Nir, there is an entire Fry's range here, whohooo! There are white eggs, brown eggs, golden eggs, omega 3 health egga, french eggs and no freakin' free range eggs:(

Today is also 30 degrees, but it's stunning!! Just perfect (for me) No wind, humidity VERY low. So, I've been exploring today. Alone, it's fun. The malls are very quiet, basically closed because of Ramadan.

I wil go now, very hungry - haven't eaten coz my hamper only consisted of wheat, dairy and sugar products:(

I hope you enjoyed reading this mail. If there is anyone who wants to be removed from this mailing list, please let me know (I will really not take offence at all)

En ek hoop julle Afrikaanse mense mind nou nie vir die Ingils nie:)

Looking forward to hearing back from you

All my love,

Alta